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1. What image sensor is in Sigma cameras?
Sigma DSLR cameras contain a Foveon X3 Direct Image Sensor. A general background that highlights the unique differences between the X3 image sensor technology and the technology behind the commercial color image sensors found in other DSLRs can be found on this page that discusses Sigma’s current DSLR offering, the SD15.

2. The SD15 will have the following image sensor’s specifications:

Description

Specification

Effective Pixels

14.45MP 2688×1792 x 3layers

Effective Pixel Locations

2688×1792

Effective Pixel Area

20.7mm x 13.8mm

Optical Format

1.7x Focal Length Multiplier

Aspect Ratio

3:2

Optical Low-Pass Filter Required

No

3. Who designed this image sensor?
The image sensor was designed by Foveon, Inc. of Santa Clara, California, USA.

4. Who owns Foveon?
Foveon, Inc. is a subsidiary of Sigma Corporation. Sigma purchased Foveon and all the intellectual property involved in fabricating the X3 Direct Image Sensor and processing X3 images in November, 2008.

5. What does the “X3” in “X3 Direct Image Sensor” stand for?
“X3” stands for the three-layer structure used in Sigma’s Foveon sensors. Foveon X3 Direct Image sensors use three layers of pixels embedded in silicon to capture the color that other image sensors miss. The layers are positioned to take advantage of the fact that silicon absorbs different wavelengths of light to different depths. The bottom layer records red, the middle layer records green, and the top layer records blue. Each stack of pixels directly records all of the light at each point in the image. Other image sensors have featured just one layer of pixels, capturing just one color per point the image. To capture color, the pixel sensors in CCD and CMOS image sensors are organized in a grid, or mosaic, resembling a three-color checkerboard. Each pixel is covered with a filter and records just one color—red, green, or blue.

6. How do you respond to people who debate the number of megapixels in Sigma cameras?
The number of megapixels in the X3 Direct Image Sensor is simple math: Using the anticipated SD1 as an example, the sensor’s pixels are arranged in three layers throughout 15.3 million spatial (or pixel) locations. Multiply those numbers and you get 45.9, or 46 megapixels.

The real debate stems from the definition of “pixel” versus “pixel location.” The following definitions are consistent with standard industry conventions as applied to CCD image sensors, CMOS image sensors, and the Foveon X3 direct image sensor:A “pixel” on the image sensor of a digital camera is a light absorbing element (photodetector) that converts light (photons) into electrons. A pixel is also referred to as a pixel sensor when there is a need to distinguish the pixel from its location.

A “pixel location” is the X,Y coordinate on the two-dimensional grid of an image sensor at which the pixel is located.Before the Foveon X3 Direct Image sensor came along, no one had to worry about this because there was always a 1:1 relationship between the number of pixels (photodetectors) and the number of pixel locations for a traditional CCD and CMOS image sensor. Given this relationship, the generic term “pixel” has been commonly used to reference both the pixel (photodetector) and the pixel location.

Of course, that was prior to Foveon’s creation of an image sensor that incorporates three pixels (photodetectors) at every pixel location on the image sensor. The SD1’s 46 megapixel (4,800×3,200×3 layers) 24×16mm APS-C X3 Direct Image sensor captures all primary RGB colors at each and every pixel location, ensuring the capture of full and complete color. Using three silicon-embedded layers of photo detectors, stacked vertically to take advantage of silicon’s ability to absorb red, green and blue light at different respective depths, it efficiently reproduces color more accurately, and offers sharper resolution, pixel for pixel, than any conventional image sensor. Since color moire is not generated, the use of a low-pass filter is not required, meaning light and color, generated by the 46 megapixel APS-C X3 direct image sensor is captured with a three-dimensional feel.

7. The SD1 will boast new image sensor’s specifications. They are as follows:

Optional lenses: The SD1 can be used with over 40 Sigma lenses such as ultra-wide, ultra-telephoto, macro and fisheyes which adopt the latest technology such as the FLD (“F” Low Dispersion) glass elements, which have the performance equal to fluorite glass, SLD glass, Aspherical lenses, Sigma’s own unique Optical Stabilizer function, Hyper Sonic Motor and Sigma’s Super Multi Layer Coating. They meet the various and demanding requirements of all types of photographers.

Being a landscape photographer and X3 enthusiast, I hope Sigma can develop a high end ultra-wide angle prime to fully utilize the sensor! As an alternative, the new 8-16 appears to perform well in terms of resolution. However you can hardly use filters on it.
Anyway, SD1 is the first camera that I would like to pre-order.

eroll said: 2011.02.12 10:19

looks like a great camera.
Do you have plans to incorporate LiveView in the camera? for me its very important since I’m doing alot of macro work on a tripod. for me at least, Live View is a deal breaker.

Thanks

mek said: 2011.02.21 17:34

Various sources report that the writing on the card in high resolution file takes about 10 seconds, long enough. Is this true? whether the menu and the camera shutter is then activated?
Well, that ISO 800 is usable and clean. I hope it’s true:)

yoeman fong said: 2011.03.15 16:50

Does Sigma have any plans to build an adapter so we could mount Nikon F-mount lens on the SD1? All my Sigma lenses are Nikon mount and it would be a considerable investment to repurchase them in the Sigma mount configuration. I believe if you do offer this, it would open a huge market for you. I’ll be first in line to order one. Thanks.

Robert Leary said: 2011.05.05 16:33

Competing with the 16 MP crowd,resolution wise, but 61 MP color wise without balancing adjacent pixels for brightness color? Should be interesting, but the $64,000 question still has not been answered. AAt what price?

[…] Sigma Corporation of America. “The addition of the 46-megapixel sensor and the continued use of Foveon’s unique three-layer design results in images that can’t be reproduced by other cameras on today’s […]